Switch-plug with electrical fuse.



PATENTED JAN. 9, 1906.

A, HEPKE 2 K. DIENER.

SWITCH PLUG WITH ELEGTRIGA L FUSE,

APPLIGATION FILED JULY 20,1904.

winawes: am 4 /f UNITED STATIES PATENT OFFICE.

SWITCH-PLUG WITH ELECTRICAL FUSE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Jan. 9,1906.

Application filed July 20, 1904. Serial No. 217,397.

.To all whom it ntcty concern:

Be it known that we, ALEXANDER HEPKE and KURT DIENER, subjects of theKing of Prussia, German Emperor, and residents of Berlin, Kingdom ofPrussia, German Empire, have jointly invented certain new and usefulImprovements in Switch-Plugs with Electrical Fuses, of which thefollowing is an exact specification.

Our invention relates to improvements in fuse-plugs for electriccircuits, and more especially to fuse-plugs with several fuses to beused one after the other. In such plugs with several fuses hithertoconstructed the fuses mostly were arranged in a special plug, by theturning or otherwise movement of which second plug or cylinder thedifferent fuses were inserted in the circuit. -In such plugs thecurrent-circuit is completed by contact springs, which cannot beprevented from being heated. Therefore the elasticity of the spring andthe contact made are soon diminished, so that the fuse will not melt atthe right moment.

According to the present invention the fuses are not fixed to a specialcylinder or the like by the changing of the position of which thedesired fuses are inserted, but are rigidly fixed in the plug.

In order to make our invention more clear, we refer to the accompanyingdrawings, in which 1 Figure 1 is a vertical section of a plug providedwith two fuse-wires. Fig. 2 is partly a horizontal section and partly aplan of the plug after removal of the top plate. Figs. 3 and 4 aresimilar views of a modified construction.

In the drawings, Figs. 1 and 2, two fusewires 1 and 2 are providedwithin the plug body 20, which are in contact with a contactscrew 3. Theupper ends of the wires 1 and 2 terminate in two contact-pieces 4 1,which are situated in a disk 5, manufactured of an insulating material,(glass, porcelain, or the like.) In the disk 5 two further contactpieces6 and 6 are fixed, which by means of wires 7, advantageously embedded ingypsum or the like, are connected to the screw threaded metal shell 8,forming the contact with the plug-socket. Above the disk 5 a second disk11, turnable around the axle 9, is situated, which disk is alsomanufactured of a fireproof insulating material. The disk 11 is providedwith a metal plate 10, which is constructed so as to be capable offorming an electric connection between one of the two contact pairs 1 6or 1 6. The disk 11 is pressed by means of springs or of an elastic cap12 downward, so that the metal piece 10 is pressed upon thecontact-pieces 4 6 or 4 6, respectively.

The axle 9 is fixed in a partition 13, separating the fuse-wires 1 and 2from one another.

In the position shown in the drawings the metal strip 10 is situatedupon the contactpieces 1 and 6, (shown on the left-hand side of thedrawings.) If the plug is inserted in the socket, the electric currentwill flow from the contact-screw 3, through the fuse-wire 1, thecontact-piece 4, the plate 10, the contact piece 6, and the wire 7 tothe shell 8. If the fuse-wire 1 is molten, the disk 11 is turned, forwhich purpose it is advantageously provided with a handle 14. If by theturning of the disk 11 the metal piece 10 is situated upon the secondcontact-pieces 1 and 6, the fuse-wire 2 is inserted in the circuit, sothat the current flows through this fuse-wire 2, from the contact-screw3, to the shell 8.

It will be understood that instead of using two fuse-wires or strips 1and 2 with the contact-pieces 4 6 or 1 6, connected to the same, severalsuch fuse-wires may be arranged es pecially in case of large plugs, sothat by turning the disk 11 after one of the wires being molten alwaysthe following wire can be inserted.

In the construction shown in Figs. 3 and 4 the insertion of a new wireis effected by pressing a pin downward. The fuse-wires 1 and 2 areseparated again by a partition 13. The wire 1 is guided over thispartition 13 and passes over the part of the casing in which the wire 2is situated. The wire 1 is then fixed in the casing or plug-body 30 inany convenient manner. The second wire 2 is guided over a nose 19 and isthen also fixed to the casing. In the plate 5 a metal socket 15 isfixed, which is connected by means of the wire 17 to the shell 8. Inthis socket the pin or plug 16 is situated. In the position shown in thedrawings this. plug 16 pushes against the wire 1, so that the currentflows through the contact-screw 3, the fuse-wire 1, the plug 16, thesocket 15, and the wire 17 to the shell 8. As the plug 16 pushes againstthe wire 1, this plug cannot be pressed downward. If now the wire 1 ismolten, the plug 16 can be shifted downward, so as to push against thewire 2. The wires 1 and 2 are situated so that their crossing-point issituated underneath the plug 16. By shifting the plug 16 downward afterthe fuse-wire 1 being molten the fuse-wire 2 is inserted.

It will be understood that instead of two fuse-wires three or morefuse-wires may be used, which can be inserted one after the other. Bythe fuse-wire which is inserted in the circuit, preventing the downwardmovement of the plug, it is impossible to bring several wires in contactwith the plug 16. This is very important, as the current should alwayspass only through one of the fuse-wires, the di ameter of which iscalculated for the current. Instead of the plug 16 a screw may be used.

The hollow spaces within the plug-body may be filled with sand, gypsum,or the like, so that a melting fuse cannot damage the other fuses. Thefuses can also be connected in parallel.

Having thus fully described the nature of our invention and in whatmanner the same is to be performed, what we desire to secure by LettersPatent of the United States is 1. In a fuse-plug for electric circuits,the combination with an insulating plug-body, of two contact-bodiesfixed to said plug-body, through which contact-bodies the current entersand leaves the plug, a plurality of fuses within said plug-body in fixedposition to the same, and electrically connected with one of their endsto one of said contact-bodies, and a movable member for connectingseriatim the other ends of the fuses with the other contact-body,substantially as described and for the purpose set forth.

2. In a fuse-plug for electric circuits, the combination with aninsulating plug-body, of two contact-bodies fixed to said plug-body,through which contact-bodies the current enters and leaves the plug, aplurality of fuses within said plug-body in fixed position to the same,and electrically connected with one of their ends to one of saidcontact-bodies, and a member movable around its axis for connectingseriatim the other ends of the fuses with the other contact-body,substantially as described and for the purpose set forth.

3. In a fuse-plug for electric circuits, the combination with aninsulating plug-body, of two outside contact-bodies fixed to saidplugbody, through which contact-bodies the current enters and leaves theplug, a plurality of fuses within said plug-body in fixed position tothe same, and electrically connected with one of their ends to one ofsaid contact-bodies, a plate of insulated material, pairs ofcontactpieces situated in saidv plate, one of the contact-pieces of eachpair being electrically connected to the other end of one of the fuses,the other contact-piece of each pair being electrically connected to thesecond contact body, and means for electrically connecting in turn thecontact-pieces of each pair to each other, substantially as describedand for the purpose set forth.

4. In a fuse-plug for electric circuits, the combination with aninsulating plug-body, of two outside contact-bodies fixed to saidplugbody, through which contact-bodies the current enters and leaves theplug, a plurality of fuses within said plug-body in fixed position tothe same, and electrically connected with one of their ends to one ofsaid contact-bodies, a plate of insulated material, pairs ofcontactpieces situated in said plate, one of the con tact-pieces of eachpair being electrically connected to the other end of one of the fuses,the other contact-piece of each pair being electrically connected to thesecond contactbody, a plate of insulating material with a metallicstrip, and means for turning said insulated plate so as to electricallyconnect the two contactpieces of in turn each pair to each other,substantially as described and for the purpose set forth.

In testimony whereof we have signed our names to this specification inthe presence of two subscribing witnesses.

- ALEXANDER IIEPKE.

KURT DIENER. I/Vitnesses:

HENRY HAsrER, WOLDEMAR HAUPT.

